What Assassin’s Creed Got Right With Its Yearly Releases

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Assassin’s Creed: Shadow has once more won over fans, demonstrating that exceptional gameplay can surpass unnecessary debates. Although fans are content with the game, they ponder whether Ubisoft will exceed its own achievements and if the franchise might settle into routine launches in the future.

Releasing games annually often stifles innovation since there’s usually another game in the series coming out the next year. Frequent releases can make the games feel repetitive or stale for fans, and they may struggle to find unique aspects in each new release because of their similarities.

Despite the justifiable criticism levied at Assassin’s Creed, the annual release cycle didn’t turn out to be entirely detrimental.

While Assassin’s Creed has its fair share of criticisms, the yearly release format wasn’t entirely negative.

Among the many advantages of these games coming out frequently was the way each installment fostered excitement for what was to come next. While Desmond was a key figure in the Animus narrative, fans were always eager to explore how his ancestors’ tales impacted him. Admittedly, Ubisoft eventually weakened that storyline and rendered the Animus meaningless, but the suspense it created was enjoyable for quite some time.

Fans of Assassin’s Creed series have enjoyed the anticipation each year to uncover new developments in the storyline. Similarly, some Sony franchises might thrive with annual or biennial releases, given Sony’s reputation as a “cinematic” publisher. For instance, a more frequent release schedule like the one for Marvel’s Spider-Man, such as Miles Morales installments, could help advance the storyline they are consistently developing.

Microsoft envies Ubisoft’s annual franchise releases and has acquired numerous developers in an attempt to create their own unique intellectual properties (IP). However, even triumphs like Hi-Fi Rush don’t always satisfy Microsoft’s executives.

Knowing that a franchise you enjoy will arrive annually to scratch your gaming itch provides a sense of familiarity and comfort for these titles. Whether it’s the open-world stealth escapades of Assassin’s Creed, blasting trolls in Call of Duty, or even wrestling opponents in WWE 2K, annual game launches can serve as enjoyable comfort food.

To clarify, it appears that the annual installments of Assassin’s Creed by Ubisoft didn’t fare well over time. The series seemed to lose its direction once Ezio’s narrative concluded, as the developers struggled to maintain the Animus universe. Although there were several intriguing protagonists in different games, they were often confined to standalone roles and lacked further development. This lack of continuity made these titles feel even more monotonous than they originally were.

As a devoted fan, I’d admit that annual game releases might not always be ideal. However, under the right conditions, they can indeed thrive. Ubisoft managed to pull it off for a while, but their overconfidence eventually led to their downfall.

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2025-04-01 16:42